With its best back-to-back efforts of the season, the Cicero-North Syracuse ice hockey team upset the hosts during last weekend’s Rome Free Academy Tournament, then went on take the first-place honors.
Going up against RFA last Friday night at Kennedy Arena, the Northstars took control in the game’s middle portion and rode that wave to a 4-2 victory over the Black Knights.
They were tied, 1-1, after the first period. However, in the second period CNS’s defense stiffened up and shut out RFA, giving the offense time to score twice and seize a 3-1 edge. The Black Knights would never catch up.
Aaron Hildreth and Anthony Cirillo accounted for all the Northstars’ goals, each of them scoring twice as Hildreth added an assist. Tyler Strutz and Will Kaljeski added assists, too, as Joe Feldman stopped 24 of the 26 shots he faced.
Seizing that momentum, the Northstars went on to handle Queensbury (Section II) in Saturday’s final, winning by the score of 7-2.
For two periods, CNS moved out in front 4-2, then closed strong with a trio of unanswered goals to insure a one-sided win.
Hildreth proved unstoppable, scoring four times and adding an assist. Cirillo, Monroe and Brian Hamilton also took turns scoring, with Kaljeskie picking up three assists. Strutz and Billy Temple earned one assist apiece.
Given almost no time to rest, CNS (5-4) came home to the Twin Rinks to play in back-to-back home games against Auburn and Division II West leader Corcoran early this week.
